HTG,
Not really. Not at a federal level, anyways. The money for the pensions exists. This, like cutting cops first, is a media tactic designed to stir up and factionize the taxpayer so we don't actually look at where money goes. But I would be willing to talk about debts vs. income and worthwhile projects. I do realize the need to cut back on .gov money spending.
I was objecting to Mak's name calling.
As far as company backed promises, if a .gov is so insolvent that it can't pay it's contractual promises, then we need to seriously consider dismantling said .gov. If the Federal Government of the United States ceases to exist, I'll understand where my pension went. If, however, my pension dissappears, and we still have federal Pell grants, and the NEA, well, that's BS. And that's where states are at. They're threatening to cut pensions and cops and schools, because they don't want to cut a myriad of other stupid programs.